Swiss government backs removing 'divorced' marital status

The Swiss federal government on 10 September 2026 announced support for a proposal to eliminate the marital status label "divorced" from official forms, backing an initiative put forward by liberal MP Nadine Gobe.

Proposal would return divorced people to the 'single' category

Gobe, a member of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), argues that requiring people to declare themselves permanently as "divorced" turns a closed legal matter into a lasting administrative mark. She has proposed that those who are divorced be listed as "single" on civil forms and registers instead.

The government said its backing paves the way for parliamentary consideration. If the legislature approves the change, lawmakers would then prepare and pass the legal amendments needed to remove "divorced" as a separate option on state documents.

Supporters say the move would restore privacy and reduce stigma by treating divorce as a concluded judicial act rather than an ongoing personal status. Opponents may argue the change would affect statistics, official records and certain legal procedures that still reference marital history.

Gobe framed the measure as a simple correction of administrative practice. "The requirement for someone to declare themselves as 'divorced' forever means that a private event is 'administratively perpetuated'," she said.

The next step is a debate and vote in the Swiss Parliament; only after parliamentary approval would concrete legislative texts be drafted and submitted for adoption.

Photo: press material from the event